Chocolate Ice

By the sum of its ingredients, you'd think that this would merely be frozen chocolate water... but the high quality chocolate yields an intensely flavoured, frozen mouthful of pure bliss. Best eaten in one or two scoop quantities only.

• Ready In: 12 hrs 20 mins
• Serves: 8-12

Ingredients

• 2  cups water
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup cocoa powder
• 3  ounces  high quality bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (70%)
• 1  tablespoon orange zest
• 1⁄4 cup  freshly squeezed  orange juice

Directions

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, bring 2 cups water, the sugar and cocoa powder to a boil, stirring constantly.
2. Reduce heat, simmer one minute until sugar is dissolved and cocoa evenly blended.
3. Stir in chocolate until melted.
4. Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl, and cool to room temperature.
5. Stir in orange juice and zest.
6. Cover and refrigerate until completely cold (I usually go overnight- the texture is transcendent when it is completely cooled like this).
7. Stir chocolate mixture, and transfer to your ice cream maker, freezing according to manufacturerer's instructions.